Britain's restaurant spend sees boost in January 2018: Visa research

Although overall consumer spending in 2018 started on a downbeat note.

Visa chief commercial officer Mark Antipof said, “Consumer spending entered the New Year on a downbeat note, falling for the eighth time in the past nine months, as Britons continued to cut back on spending. Clothing, furniture and household goods bore the brunt of consumers’ caution yet again, while spending on the British high street in general fell sharply as the traditional January sales failed to bring shoppers out in numbers this year.

“It wasn’t all doom and gloom in January though. Britons tackled the January blues with evenings out and early holiday bookings, giving a boost to hotels, restaurants and bars," he added.